Mining Is Still Strong In Arizona
A brief history
Image above: A mine near Table Mesa north of Phoenix.
Native Americans mined the first minerals in the now state of Arizona extracting salt, clay, turquoise, obsidian and other materials. Now, with the average American using more than 45,000 pounds of raw material annually this trend of mining the Grand Canyon State doesn’t appear to be slowing anytime soon.
When the Spanish arrived to the Southwest in the 1500’s the search began for silver and gold with the first major silver discovery by Antonio de Espejo near Flagstaff. Now, in modern Arizona, the state is known for copper, gold, pumice, salt, and turquoise. Small amounts of natural gas and oil are also found in the area.
Significant amounts of uranium are found in Northern Arizona near the Grand Canyon causing conflict with local Native American groups as uranium mining historically contaminates water supplies and leaves toxic waste dangerous to humans and local ecology.
Mines along the Arizona Trail in Southern Arizona contaminate water and soil in the region while drying up ancient aquifers.